Child&#39;s sleeping garment having an elastic ankle



April 12, 1955 s. s. WALKER CHILD'S SLEEPING GARMENT HAVING AN ELASTIC ANKLE Filed June 1, 1955 2 Shets-Sheet 1 mm M m Wm. 8 S V a. M H p w M a mm m @w W 0 a mm 7/ 8 w April 12, 1955 s. s. WALKER 2,705,804

CHILD'S SLEEPING GARMENT HAVING AN ELASTIC ANKLE Filed June 1, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 t" -....l 7;; I 28 25 28 Samuel S. Walker IN VE/V TOR.

United States Patent CHILDS SLEEPING GARMENT HAVING AN ELASTIC ANKLE Samuel S. Walker, Martinsville, Va.

Application June 1, 1953, Serial No. 358,773

Claims. (Cl. 2-83) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a childs sleeping garment having an elastic ankle and more particularly pertains to a construction of sleeping garments whereby a given size of the garment may be continued in use for a longer period by a growing child.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a trouser-like lower garment especially of the type used as a sleeping garment for a child and wherein the garment is fabricated to allow for an increase in the length of the legs to accommodate a growing child.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sleeping garment for children in which a snug fit upon the foot and leg of a child will be maintained at all times and yet wherein the same will accommodate itself to a growing child.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sleeping garment having provision for better fitting feet therein, resulting in a neater appearance when the garment is worn.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a childs sleeping garment as set forth in the foregoing objects wherein provision is made for greater ease in walking by eliminating the danger of the child tripping over a dangling garment foot when the length of the leg of the garment is greater than that of the child.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sleeping garment having a snug fitting foot, and yet wherein the foot will be sufliciently yieldable, especially for growing children, as to eliminate any possibility of retarding blood circulation by virtue of too tight a fit.

And a final very important object of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein, recites the provision of a sleeping garment for children which shall be so constructed as to have an elastic construction incorporated into the foot and leg portion so as to permit the garment to have its leg portions increased in length as the child grows, and thus permit a single garment to be used for a longer period of time by a growing child.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a childs sleeping garment incorporating therein the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a detail view of a portion of the foot and leg portion of the garment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View, taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 1 and upon an enlarged scale and showing the construction of the elastic leg portion of the garment; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure 1 and upon an enlarged scale, and showing in particular the location of the elastic strips forming an essential feature of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, which are to be understood as illustrative of the principles of the invention only, and not as limitations thereof, the numeral designates a childs sleeping garment or other similar garment such as a snow suit or the like, and which is a trousers-like article of clothing. The same includes a pair of leg por tions 12 each terminating in an integral foot portion 14,

portions, and the ankle portions could be separately constructed or unitarily formed upon either of the foot or leg portions.

It is, however, an essential and fundamental principle of this invention to so construct the ankle portion that the same will be elastic in nature and this elasticity will be directed in the direction of the length of the legs, whereby the elasticity will tend to shorten the legs and thus maintain the foot portions snug upon the foot and yieldingly biased toward the legs to the end that the foot por tion shall fit snugly, without dangling, and any slack between the foot and the leg will be taken up by the elastic ankle portion 16 in the form of accordion-like or puckered folds as shown best in Figure 3.

The above mentioned essential principle of the invention may be practiced in a variety of ways. Preferably, however, one or more elastic strips, each indicated by the numeral 18, is attached to the foot portion, ankle portion and to the lower part of the leg portion. In the example illustrated two of the elastic strips 18 are secured to each leg of the garment, these being disposed as shown best in Figure 4 upon the inside and outside surfaces of the leg portion. The strips are disposed to extend lengthwise of the leg and have their lower ends secured as by stitching 20 or any other suitable fastening means to the foot portion 14 adjacent to the sole 22 thereof. With the lower end of the strips secured to the foot portion as aforementioned, the legs are stretched tight, the strips are then tensioned or extended and are sewed or otherwise secured to the side of the foot portion, the ankle portion 16 and the lower part of the leg portions 12. By this arrangement, when the stretching force is released, the strips will contract and will tend to draw the ankle portion into accordion like folds as shown at 24 in Figure 3.

It will be apparent that the elastic strips 18 may be.- As shown in Figures 3 and 4,1

of various constructions. these strips consist of a central elastic cord of any suitable nature, shown at 25, and which is covered by a web or tape 26, which latter is secured as by stitches 28 along its vertical marginal edges to the side of the foot, ankle and leg portions.

By this arrangement, it is obvious that the leg portion may be extended from its collapsed, accordion-like folded position, in accordance with the length of the leg of the wearer, until the maximum extension has been reached and all of the accordion-like folds 24 have been straightened or stretched. This arrangement permits several important advantages to be obtained.

Thus, the purchaser may secure a garment of a larger size than that immediately required by the child and the garment will stretch as the child grows, thereby permitting a particular garment to be employed for a longer time for a growing child. During its use, it will be seen that at all times the foot portion will be snugly held on the foot of the user, all looseness or sloppy fit will be taken up by the elasticity imparted to the ankle portion so that a snug fit without the unattractive appearance and the danger of a dangling foot portion is obtained.

The elasticity of the strips 18 is such that although the desired snug fit is obtained, there is enough elasticity and yieldability to avoid any danger of interfering with the normal circulation in the foot of the wearer or of the garment being in any way uncomfortable thereon by virtue of the snugness of its fit.

Still further, by the application of elastic strips, any conventional garment can be adapted for obtaining and carrying out the purposes and advantages of this invention, and this at a minimum cost and labor.

It will, of course, be apparent that alternatively the elastic strips may be actually constituted as a part of the ankle portion 16, or if desired the entire ankle portion may be made of such material. In general, however, the provision of two or more strips is deemed preferable since Patented Apr. 12, 1955 it insures adequate elasticity, but prevents the application of a too great a force applied to the foot portion which might be uncomfortable upon the foot and ankle of the user.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the ap-' pended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A childs sleeping garment including attached leg and foot portions, and elastic means extending lengthwise of said leg portion and secured to both said portions whereby to yieldingly shorten the length of the leg portion, said elastic means being attached to said foot portion intermediate the sole and heel thereof.

2. In a childs sleeping garment, a yieldingly extensible leg portion having a foot portion secured thereto, an elastic strip disposed lengthwise of the leg portion, one end of said strip being secured to the foot portion adjacent the sole thereof, said strip being secured to said leg portion from adjacent the sole portion of the foot portion to above the ankle portion of the leg portion and normally creating puckered folds in the ankle portion of the leg portion, said strip being tensioned and removing the puckered folds as said leg portion is stretched to its full length whereby said strip will shorten and lengthen the leg portion to accommodate the foot portion snugly to the foot of its wearer through varying stages of growth.

3. A resiliently adjustable garment comprising a leg portion of pliable material having a foot portion integral therewith, strips of elastic material disposed lengthwise of said leg portion, said strips being's'ecured to said foot portion adjacent the sole thereof and extending upwardly along said leg portion to a region above the ankle portion of the leg portion and being fastened to said leg portion, said strips being pre-tensioned whereby the ankle portion of said leg portion will be yieldingly shortened to snugly fit the leg of the wearer.

4. A childs sleeping garment including attached leg and foot portions, and elastic means extending lengthwise of said leg portion and secured to both said portions whereby to yieldingly shorten the length of the leg portion, said means including'a pair of strips of elastic material, said strips being secured to the inside and outside of said leg portion," and having their lower ends secured to said foot portion adjacent the sole thereof intermediate the toe and heelof the foot portion. i

5. A childs sleeping garment including attached leg and foot portions and elastic means extending lengthwise of said leg portion and being secured to both said portions whereby to yieldingly shorten the length of said leg portion adjacent its attachment to said foot portion, said elastic means being secured to said foot portion adjacent the sole and intermediate the toe and heel thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,636,287 Heilbronner Apr. 28, 1953 

